NanoPi R3S – A low-cost Rockchip RK3566 SBC and dual Gigabit Ethernet router
FriendlyELEC NanoPi R3S is a low-cost Rockchip RK3566 SBC and router with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 host port, a USB-C port for power and data, a microSD card slot, reset and mask buttons, and some LEDs. It also has a MIPI DSI connector for users who want to connect a display.
Its design and size are similar to the NanoPi R5C Dual 2.5GbE SBC and Router, so it can be considered a low-cost alternative with dual GbE, no M.2 socket for WiFi and Bluetooth, only one USB 3.0 port, and no HDMI video output. The company promotes it as a low-cost platform for IoT applications, basic NAS solutions, etc.
NanoPi R3S specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RK3566
- CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A55 processor with up to 2.0 GHz
- GPU – Arm Mali-G52 MP2 GPU
- NPU – 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator
- VPU
- 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoder
- 1080p60 H.264/H.265 video encoder
- System memory – 2GB LPDDR4X
- storage
- Optional 32 GB eMMC flash
- MicroSD card slot
- Display interface – 30-pin MIPI DSI FPC connector (CNXSoft: I couldn’t find any documentation on this or a display known to work)
- Network – 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports
- WAN via Realtek RTL8111H PCIe to GbE controller tested up to 934 Mbit/s (Tx) and 936 Mbit/s (Rx)
- LAN via Realtek RTL8211E tested up to 934 Mbit/s (Tx) and 941 Mbit/s (Rx)
- USB
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port
- 1x USB-C port for power and data (e.g. for flashing the firmware)
- Debugging – 3-pin UART header (1.5 Mbps baud rate)
- Miscellaneous
- Mask key for eMMC flash update
- User button
- 2-pin connector for RTC
- 3x user LEDs for SYS, LAN, WAN
- Power supply – 5 V via USB Type-C port
- Dimensions – PCB: 57 x 57 mm; Housing: 61.5 x 61.5 x 25 mm
- Weight – 30 grams without case, 144 grams with metal case
- Temperature range – 0 to 80°C
FriendlyELEC provides images for Ubuntu Noble 24.04 Core, Debian 12 Core, OpenMediaVault 6.1 and FriendlyWrt (fork of OpenWrt 21.02 or 23.05) for the board, all based on Linux 6.1.x and u-boot
v2017.09. They can be flashed to the eMMC via a microSD card or USB-C cable using the eFlasher utility, or booted directly from the microSD card. Documentation and OS images can be found in the wiki.
I compared the NanoPi R5C in the introduction as both are based on the Rockchip RK3566/RK3568 processor, but it is more of an update of the Rockchip RK3328 based NanoPi R2S Dual GbE IoT Board and Gateway with better performance and additional features like a USB 3.0 Type-A port and MIPI DSI. FriendlyELEC shows that the R3S runs much cooler than the R2S when used in the same/similar metal case.
The NanoPi R3S board is available without eMMC flash for just $30 (or with 32GB flash for $35), plus $5 for the metal case. So a complete kit with 32GB eMMC flash and metal case is $40 plus shipping.
Jean-Luc founded CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time venture before quitting his job as a software engineering manager and starting writing daily news and reviews full-time later in 2011.
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